Description

Le cépage Marsanne dans la vallée du Rhône produit des vins concentrés et longs en bouche qui, à maturité, séduisent les connaisseurs par leur grande complexité et leur élégance. À l'Ermitage, Michel Chapoutier élabore ce vin de parcelle, la collection la plus prestigieuse, avec à peine 2 hectares de vignobles remplis de galets d'origine alluviale. Le millésime 2017 surprend par sa salinité et sa minéralité, avec une tension en bouche remarquable

Fiche technique

Le domaine
M. Chapoutier
Type de vin
Blanc
Millésime
2017
Alcool
14.0% vol.
Cépage
100% Marsanne
Origine
Ermitage

Dégustation

Température de service
Il est recommandé de le servir entre 9 et 12 °C.
Garde
Jusqu'en 2035 s'il est conservé dans des conditions optimales.

Vignoble et élaboration

Description
Le vignoble est situé sur le versant du Méal.
Size
2 hectares.
Année de plantation
Plus de 50 ans.
Sol
Roulis d'origine alluviale.
Climat
Continental.
Vendanges
Manuel.
Vinification
Après le Pressurage des raisins entiers, une pré-macération fermentative à froid est effectuée pendant 24 à 48 heures. Environ 50 % du moût est transféré dans des fûts neufs en chêne français de 600 litres. L'autre moitié reste dans des cuves.
Elevage
Rouge crianza sur lies pendant 10 à 12 mois.

L'avis des experts

The Wine Advocate:

The 2017 Ermitage le Meal Blanc starts with refined notes of crushed stone and pencil shavings that move into a whirlwind of lush fruit, ranging from pineapple through melon and pear. It's rich, almost custardy in texture, yet it's backed by mineral notes of crushed stone and delivers awesome freshness on the long finish. It's an exhilarating ride. 508 cases produced.

Jeb Dunnuck:

As with all the whites from Chapoutier today, the 2017 Ermitage Le Méal Blanc has a kiss of reduction in its rich, full-bodied, powerful style, which gives the wine a more focused, backward style than normal. A huge nose of celery seed, caramelized citrus, honeysuckle, and turmeric as well as plenty of minerality all emerge from the glass, and this beauty gains depth and richness with time. Hide bottles for 3-4 years and it should keep nicely for two decades or more.

James Suckling:

A beautifully rich and complex nose with lemons and limes, white and yellow peaches and a surge of spicy oak, roasted almonds and a flicker of reductive flint. The palate has seamless build and rich, deep-set, ripe-fruit flesh. Smooth, buttery and freshly cut at the finish. Drink or hold.

Decanter:

This 100% Marsanne comes from a 2ha plot of 50-year-old vines on alluvial deposits and large stones. 2008 was a fairly average vintage in the Rhône, arguably the worst of the 2000s along with the dire 2002, but the whites are better than the reds, as this wine shows. It's a little skinnier and straighter than average, but still thoroughly enjoyable, with a little touch of vanilla pod to the poached pear and mango flavours. It has vibrant acidity and a more bitter finish than usual. Not a great vintage for this wine, but from a global perspective it's still very good. Drinking Window 2019 - 2023.